May 10th, 2017
Parent Talk
**formerly known as the Weekly Chatter
"13 Reasons Why" sensationalizes teen suicide, experts warn
Research shows, 1 in 5 young people in the US has a diagnosable mental health disorder; and

suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in children ages 10-24.

While some mental health professionals say the new Netflix series, "13 Reasons Why" could provide an opportunity to have a conversation about suicide risk with young people, others suggest the series poses health risks for young people especially those with suicidal thoughts.

Experts in adolescent suicide say the show 's portrayal of suicide is sensationalized and unrealistic and note that the main character's progression of suicidal behavior is "simply not plausible."  Worse yet, the show contains themes and graphic scenes of underaged drinking, teen sex and even rape. 

The final episode depicts the main character ending her life in graphic detail.



 Unfortunately, many teens have already been exposed to the show's explicit content as it has already been deemed "the most tweeted about show of 2017." Research shows

"exposure to graphic, sensationalized, highly detailed, or simplified portrayals of suicide can result in copycat suicide attempts and deaths by suicide, particularly in teens and young adults."

For parents of teens who've already begun watching, ACPeds encourages parents to watch alongside them so parents can be aware of what their children are being exposed to and to use the show as an opportunity to discuss suicide, the risk factors and the effects it can have on those left behind.
Phys Ed promotes healthy lifestyles in kids and teens
While federal recommendation calls for at least 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity 5 days a week, only 1 in 3 children in the US is physically active every day and researchers say today's youth are being shortchanged because of it.



According to recent research, frequent physical education classes can not only improve fitness, but also improve thinking and academic achievement and help students develop the knowledge, interests and skills for a lifelong healthy lifestyle.



With estimates that children spend 7.5 hours per day, on average, in front of a screen--whether it be TV, video games, computers or the like--researchers hope their findings will encourage policy makers, especially those in education, and parents to encourage more physical education for kids.
Putting an End to Human Trafficking                
#WeeklyBlogPost
Whole families and communities are disrupted and disturbed when people are trafficked into slavery. Most commonly, the direct victims of human trafficking are women and children.

To learn how you can recognize the signs of human trafficking and help put an end to the modern-day slave trade,


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